Shifter's Journeys, Book One: the Scar, the Sword, and the Saga

Prologue

~September 15~

(Listen while reading. Skip ahead to 11 seconds)

An owl hoots, a wolf howls, crickets chirp, all is peaceful... Or is it? Racing through the forest, on cold, hard ground in the dead of the night, in the middle of winter, is a vixen, with a newborn hanging in a basket from the vixen's mouth. It knows that the infant it's carrying will freeze soon if she doesn't get him warmth, even with the light layers he's wearing. She hears something thump and she turns around, startled. She sees two figures chasing her. She knows they are after the child. But these aren't his rescuers, no, these are his killers.

The vixen starts running again and the creatures follow her. She knows she has to lose them, lest she risk her family's den. The vixen takes a sharp left into a shrub. It hears the figures skid to a halt, and one of them speaks, in a low, deep voice, "Are you sure the fox went this way? I don't see it."

The other figure replies. This one has a deep voice, but not as deep as the first speaker, "Positive, where else would it go?"

"It could've turned around."

"That's very unlikely. Besides, we would've seen it sneaking past us."

"That's true... Maybe it's hiding?"

"I'll check that shrub, you check by the river."

"How come you get to be the boss?!"

"Because I outrank you. Now, get a move on!"

"All right, all right! I'm going."

The first silhouette starts silently walking towards the shrub. The vixen, with her extremely sensitive ears, still hears him and gets ready to leap out and defend. This is my only chance... Gotta make this count, Amy, she thinks, Ready? One... two... three! As soon as the creature nears the shrub Amy leaps out and smashes into him, which causes him to fall.

The creature starts to yell for backup, but Amy quickly severs his windpipe and he stops. The body falls to the ground. Amy gets ready to run when she hears footsteps and freezes. "Hey! What happened here?!" the second figure yells, and looks around. It spots Amy and starts chasing her. Amy, who suddenly is petrified by fear, is unable to move. After a few heart-stopping seconds, she unfreezes and dashes towards her den.

She is met by her mate, Chris, who is waiting at the entrance, and signals for him to take the baby. Her mate is confused by her actions but takes the newborn's basket. Hackles raised, Amy twirls around to face her chaser. Which makes the figure stop short, surprised.

Amy feels bad for going to kill her. Amy knows that recruits are picked young and are brainwashed, but family comes first, and there's no hope for this creature anymore. Before Amy can attack, the figure aims its crossbow at her and is about to press the trigger when another fox, Chris, leaps at the thing. Chris slashes her face and she drops her crossbow.

"What are you doing?! I told you to take the baby!" Amy shouts.

Chris replies, "I can't just stand around and watch you get killed! Besides, I put the baby in Brody's nest." Amy leaps at the figure and slashes her face and then severs her head from her neck. The creature's head rolls away, leading a trail of blood, it's body jerks once and lies still.

"What?! He won't know what a baby is! He might hurt it!" Amy cries.

"What's so important about this baby? We've already got a cub," Chris replies, annoyed and a bit tired. Amy glares at him. Her mate knows that glare, and it reminds him who the baby really is. He and Amy run towards the den...

...And find their cub, Brody, gently licking the baby, which makes the baby laugh. Brody looks up. "Back already?" he lazily asks.

"Well excuse us for being worried. Is that any way to greet your parents?" Chris teases, "Maybe a 'Hey Mom and Dad'?"

Brody smiles and ignores Chris.

"Son, may I ask why you're licking the baby? You're not planning to eat him, are you?" jokes Chris.

"I thought it looked cold, so I'm warming it up," answers Brody, who is feeling protective of the baby and is in no mood for jokes. Chris sighs and Amy smiles at him. They pad over to Brody. Amy gently picks up the baby by his shirt and puts him in her nest.

"Good job son, this baby is very important. I want you to treat it like a little brother," Chris gently orders. This gets Brody excited and he prances around.

"Oh, boy! A little brother!" he exclaims.

"Yes, it's very exciting, but you need to go to sleep now," Amy replies.

"Awww, then can I at least cuddle with the baby?... I can keep it warm..." Brody asks, hopefully. Amy and Chris glance at each other and Chris nods. "I think you're responsible enough now... Yes, you may," he answers.

Brody jumps up. "Awesome!" he exclaims.

"But you'll have to settle down," Amy sternly orders. Brody plops down immediately. "I'm settled down now. Can I have the baby now? Pleeeeease?" he begs. Amy laughs and gives the baby to Brody. Brody gently puts the baby down and curls up with it.

"Good night, Brody," Chris whispers.

"Good night, Mom and Dad," Brody whispers back as he closes his eyes. After a few minutes, he starts softly snoring. Amy smiles at her cub and brand new son. "Come on, dear, we should get some sleep," Chris suggests and gently washes his mate's ears. Amy tiredly nods and curls up with Chris in their nest.

Please vote + comment if you enjoyed the prologue. Thank you so muchly! :)